Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a catastrophic Category 4 storm Thursday night, lashing the region with devastating winds around 140 mph and causing at least three deaths.
Tropical Storm Helene relentlessly batters the Southeast with destructive winds and torrential rain, leading to the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency for downtown Atlanta.
At least one person was killed in Florida after a crash on Interstate 4 in the Tampa area that involved a highway sign on top of a vehicle. And in Charlotte, North Carolina, firefighters say a tree fell onto a home, trapping two people inside. One of the victims was taken to a local hospital, and the second victim was found dead inside the home. Firefighters say children who were also inside at the time were not physically harmed.
At least two people have reportedly died in Wheeler County, Georgia, after a mobile home was damaged during one of the numerous Tornado Warnings issued.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, firefighters responded to a tree falling onto a home, trapping two people inside. One victim was taken to a local hospital, while the other was found dead inside the home. Firefighters confirmed that children inside at the time were not physically harmed.
While wind does remain a concern, the greatest threat from Helene continues to be the flash flooding as torrential rain falls across the region, sending rivers and streams out of their banks, onto roads and into communities, trapping residents.
The flash flood threat stretches from the Southeast into the mid-Atlantic, where multiple Flash Flood Emergencies were issued early Friday morning, including the first-ever Flash Flood Emergency issued for Atlanta. At least seven other Flash Flood Emergencies were also issued in western North Carolina from Asheville to the Charlotte area.
According to a post on X from Haywood County Emergency Services, residents in portions of Waynesville, North Carolina, are being told to evacuate because of the potentially deadly situation that’s unfolding.
“Leave now,” officials said. “Climb to higher ground. Do not drive through the water.”
Local officials also said that emergency sirens in town have been sounded to alert people of the potential danger as torrential rain continues to fall, leading to the widespread flooding.
Officials are urging people to avoid the area until further notice.
